Paper-folding device



Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,673 W. W. WOODRUFF PAPER FOLDING DEVICE 1 FiledMarch 13, 1928 Q o 9/.59/9 K Patented Jan. l, 1929.

ilhllTtEi VILLIAIMI W. WOODRUFF, OF ARDMORE, PE

NNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE 1'0 srnnwnninsn 6t CLOTHIER, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, A GORPORATZON 0F PENNSYL- VANIA.

PAPER-FOLDING T E VICE.

Application filed March 13,'1928. Serial No. 261,206.

This invention relates to means for folding long strips of paper, suchas the recording strips or tapes of cash registers and similar recordingdevices.

The principal object of this invention is to produce a device by whichthese long strips may be reduced to flat bundles or packages of uniformdimensions 111 order that they may be conveniently filed for futurereference; and in order that the strips may be more conveniently handledby auditors, or other persons, who are required to inspect them afterthey have been removed from the recording devices in which they havebeen used.

These recording strips are usually printed on but one side only, bymechanism in the recording device in which they are used. Each strip isplaced in the recording device in the form of roll and assumes the formof a roll after the printing mechanism of the recording device hasrecorded sales and other information on the strip.

By the use of my invention the rolled strips, after being removed fromthe recording device, may be quickly folded, accordion fashion, intofiat packages of un form dimensions, each comprising a plurahty ofsuccessively connected leaves or layers of uniform length which, ifdesired, mlght be subsequently bound into book form.

The strips in their uniformly folded state consume aminimum amount ofspace for a given number of strips, permitting stand ardized economicalfiling in suitable cabinets. The book-like leaves'formed by folding thestrips in this manner, may, when the records are beingaudited orotherwise inspected, be turned and read in the same manner as the leavesof a bound book, each book-like leaf comprising a pair of adjacentlypositioned layers connected at their one end so that the printed matterappears on the opposite sides of the leaf and the blank sides of the twolayers of which the leaf is composed lying against each other. Theopposite end of each of said layers 1s connected to the adjacent layerof each of the adjacent leaves thus formed.

The details of my invention will be disclosed hereinafter, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a side and end elevation of a preferredform of the invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated the preferred form of theinvention, which comprises a base structure 25, composed of sheet metalbent to the desired shape. Secured to each of the oppositelongitudinalsides 26, 26 of the base structure 25 is a side frame 27. The sideframes 27, 27 each comprise a pair of vertically extending members 28,28 connected at their ends, longitudinally of the device, byhorizontally extending members 29. The upright members 28, 28 and 28, 28of the frames 27, 27 are connected by transversely extending members 30,30. Suitable braces 31, 31 connect the longitudinal members 29 and thevertical members 28 and 28 of each upper side frame 27. The side frames27, 27 con to receive fold-forming elements in the form of circular rods19. On each of the vertical members 28, 28 and located above the slots33 is a bracket 34. The brackets34c, 34 at each end of thesuperstructure are adapted to support a supply of fold-forming rods 19.'The elements comprising the base and superstructure thereon may besecured together by any suitable means whichas shownat 39 in the presentinstance consists of spot welding. The upper members 29, 29 of thesuperstructure are notched as'indicated at 35 for the reception of aspindle 36 on which a'roll m of the; strip material an is rotatablymounted. To one of the transversely extending frame members 30 issecured one end of a fiat spring 37 by means of a screw or bolt 38, theopposite end of'thespring 37 being adapted to bear on the periphery ofthe roll m and thereby retard rotation on the spindle 36. At one endofthe base structure 25 is a paper clip or other holding means 40 which isadapted to hold the free end of the strip 00 during the foldingoperation.

a roll is positioned on the of the device as illustrated in thedrawings. The free end of the strip-m is then led downwardly between theside frames 27, 27 of the superstructure and gripped by the fastener 40,the general position of the strip being indicated at m in Fig. 1. One ofthe fold-forming rods 19 is then lifted from the supply, supported bythe brackets 34 at the end A of the device, and carried ina directionindicated by the arrow A and thereafter deposited in the slot 33 at theend B of the superstructure.

In operation superstructure In its movement the rod 19 engages the stripand carries it from the position illustrated at m to a. position on andparallel to the 11 per fiat surface of the base structure 25, thus thefirst layer of the package is positioned. One of the fold-forming rods19 is then taken from the supporting brackets 34% at the end B of thesuperstructure and carried along the path generally indicated by thearrow B being finally deposited in the slots 33, 33 at the end A of thesuperstructure. In passing from the brackets 34 at the end B to theslots 33, 33 at the end A, the rod engages the strip w and carries itinto a position to form a second layer parallel to the first layer andto the fiat surface of the base structure 25. This operation is repeateduntil the entire strip is laid upon the base structure 25 in parallelfolds or layers, the slots 33, 33, at the opposite ends of the devicereceiving the fold-forming rods 19 in alternate succession. After theentire strip has been folded the rods 19 may be withdrawn from the foldstransversely of the device as above described, the plates 32 maintainingthe folds in position while the rods are being withdrawn.

I claim:

1. In a device for folding rolled strip material, a base structure, asuperstructure carried by said base structure and adapted to rotatablysupport a roll of said material, a plurality of fold-forming elements,and means provided in said superstructure for receiving saidfold-forming elements in alternate succession.

2. In a device for folding rolled strip material, a base structure, asuperstructure carried b said base structure and adapted to rotata lysupport a roll of said material, a

plurality of fold-forming elements, means provided in saidsuperstructure for receiving said fold-forming elements in alternatesuccession, and means for holding one end of the strip during thefolding operation.

. 3. In a device for folding rolled strip material, a base structure, asuperstructure carried by said base structure and adapted to rotatablysupport a roll of said material, a plurality of fold-forming elements,means provided'in said superstructure for receiving said fold-formingelements in alternate sucstrip during the folding operation. meanscarried by said superstructure for retarding the rotation of the rollduring the folding operation, and means on said. superstructure forsupporting said fold-forming elements in a manner to facilitate .saidfolding operation. V 4

5. In a device for folding rolled strip material, a base structurehaving a substantially flat surface, a superstructure, comprising sideframes secured to said base structure, each side of said superstructurebeing provided adjacent each of its opposite ends with a slot extendingperpendicular to the said flat surface of said base structure, meanscarried by said side frames for supporting a.

roll of said material therebetween, and a plurality of fold-forming rodsadapted to be extended transversely of the strip and to be broughtindividually and successively into engagement therewith, and to bedeposited in the slots of said superstructure in alternate succession.

6. In a device for folding rolled strip material, a base structurehaving a flat surface, a superstructure comprising a pair of similar andtransversely aligned frames secured to and extending longitudinally ofsaid base structure, each side of said superstructure having a slotadjacent each of its opposite ends and extending perpendicular to theflat surface of said base structure, means carried by said side framesfor rotatably supporting a roll of said material therebetween, means forsecuring the free end of said strip to said base structure, and aplurality offold-forming rods extending transversely of the device andadapted to be brought individually into contact with said strip anddeposited in alternate succession in the transversely aligned slots atthe opposite ends of said superstructure.

7. In a device for folding rolled strip material, a base structurehaving a flat surface, a superstructure comprising a pair of similar andtransversely cured to and extending longitudinally of said basestructure, each side of said superstructure having a slot adjacent eachof its opposite ends and extending perpendicular to the flat surface ofsaid base structure, means carried by said side frames for roalignedframes setatably supporting a roll of said material therebetWeen, meansfor securing the free end of said strip to said base structure, aplurality of fold-forming rods extending transversely of the device andadapted to be brought individually into contact With said strip anddeposited in alternate succession in the transversely aligned slots atthe op posite ends of said superstructure, and brackets on said sideframes for supporting said rods in a position to facilitate the foldingoperation.

8. In a device for folding rolled strip material, a base structurehaving a flat surface, a superstructure comprising a pair of similar andtransversely aligned frames secured to and extending longitudinally ofsaid base structure, each side of said superstructure having a slotadjacent each of its opposite ends and extending perpendicular to theflat surface of said base structure,

means carried by said side frames for rotatably supporting a roll ofsaid material therebetween, means for securing the free end of saidstrip to said base structure, a plurality of fold-forming rods extendingtransversely of the device and adapted to be brought individually intocontact with said strip and deposited in alternate succession inrotation of said roll.

9. In a device for folding rolled strip material, a base structurehaving a fiat surface, a superstructure comprising a pair of similar andtransversely aligned frames secured to andextending longitudinally ofsaid base structure, each side of said superstructure having a slotadjacent each of its opposite ends and extending perpendicular to thefiat surface of said base structure, means carried by said side framesfor rotatably supporting a roll of said material therebetvveen, meansfor securing the free end of said strip to said base structure, aplurality of fold-forming rods extending transversely of the deviceandadapted to be brought individually into contact with said strip anddeposited in alternate succession in the transversely aligned slots atthe op positeends ofsaid superstructure, brackets on said side framesfor supporting said rods in a position to facilitate the foldingoperation, and means carried by said superstructure for retarding therotation of said roll.

WILLIAM W. WOODRUFF.

